Problem of plenty for SAS Nagar as other districts suffered

Till recently, SAS Nagar was the most privileged district in the state as it had as many as 11 gynaecologists in its government hospitals. In comparison, people in Ferozepur and Fatehgarh Sahib districts were meted out an indifferent treatment as they did not have even a single gynaecologist.

Till recently, SAS Nagar was the most privileged district in the state as it had as many as 11 gynaecologists in its government hospitals. In comparison, people in Ferozepur and Fatehgarh Sahib districts were meted out an indifferent treatment as they did not have even a single gynaecologist.

These revelations have come to the fore from the health department records available after the recent transfer of 523 specialist doctors. These bring out a gross imbalance in the distribution of gynaecologists in various districts.

Prior to the transfers, SAS Nagar, a much sought-after district by doctors, had 11 gynaecologists. In comparison, Ferozepur, which has a population of more than double that of SAS Nagar, had none. Ditto for Fatehgarh Sahib district.

The situation was no better in Muktsar, Moga, Barnala and Faridkot districts. The recent transfer has tried to address this imbalance.

The department has now appointed six gynaecologists in Ferozepur district and four in Fatehgarh Sahib district.

Health director Dr Ashok Nayyar said, "Before starting the transfer drive, we did a thorough study and found that SAS Nagar, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Jalandhar and Amritsar districts had more specialist doctors, especially gynaecologists, than required. So we decided to transfer them."

A senior official of the health department said, "For years, influential people have been posted in SAS Nagar and Ludhiana districts. The recent transfers have exposed this. A few districts had more doctors than required and a few others had no doctors at all."

Similarly, seven gynaecologists have been transferred from Ludhiana urban areas, including the district hospital.

The health department had transferred the specialist doctors on Tuesday to facilitate upgrade of 100 hospitals in the state. These hospitals are being upgraded with a view to providing round-the-clock health care facilities.

Specialists at PHCs

Prior to the recent transfers, around 30 specialist doctors were posted at primary health centres and mini primary health centres, said Nayyar.

According to health care norms, these centres don't require a specialist doctor but only general physicians. Most of such doctors were well connected and were posted in Ludhiana. This despite the fact that the state was facing a severe shortage of specialists. Now they have been transferred.